Chantra will debut in MotoGP alongside Johann Zarco, replacing Takaaki Nakagami, with his first race set to take place in front of home fans at Buriram in March.
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Thailand will have its first MotoGP rider in 2025, with Somkiat Chantra officially signing with LCR Honda. The 25-year-old will partner with Johann Zarco, replacing Takaaki Nakagami, whose seven-year stint with LCR concludes at the Valencia Grand Prix.
Expressing his excitement, Chantra said, “I’m excited to join the LCR team. Stepping into MotoGP has always been my dream, and I will finally make it true. I want to thank all the sponsors and people who have supported me from the beginning of my career until now. For the next season, I’m committed to learning, giving my maximum, and enjoying this new adventure. It will be difficult, but I will give my best.”
Chantra’s journey to MotoGP began in the Asia Talent Cup and the CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship. His impressive ninth-place finish as a Moto3 wild card at Buriram in 2018 earned him a full-time Moto2 ride with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.
The Thai rider has remained with the team ever since, securing his first podiums and win in 2022, and finishing sixth in the standings last season. Currently, Chantra is 10th in the new Pirelli Moto2 era, with a best race finish of 5th.
Chantra progressed through the Asia Talent Cup and the CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship, where he made a strong impression by finishing 9th as a Moto3 wild-card in his home round at Buriram in 2018.
Lucio Cecchinello, LCR Team Principal, expressed his gratitude to Nakagami for his commitment over the past seven seasons and welcomed Chantra, saying, “As for the future, alongside HRC, we believe that it’s time to welcome a great Asian talent such as Somkiat Chantra, as we think he deserves an opportunity at the highest level of the two-wheel competition.”
“Through his years in Moto2, he’s shown potential and the skills to grow and become a strong rider in MotoGP. LCR and Honda will provide him with the best to support him over the different phases of this new project,” he added.
Chantra will join former team-mate Ai Ogura from Trackhouse and Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini in moving from Moto2 to MotoGP next year.
Notably, with Buriram now in the opening round of the next season, Chantra will make his MotoGP race debut in front of his home fans in early March. Additionally, with Chantra’s move confirmed, only the two Pramac Yamaha seats remain to be announced.
The #RoadToMotoGP journey is completed!
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) August 29, 2024@somkiat35 will line up on the 2025 #MotoGP grid with @lcr_team to become the first Thai rider to compete in the premier class! ??#MotoGP2025 pic.twitter.com/pOqNGiDWFm
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